Recount Needs To Be Above Reproach
NAMIBIA has entered unknown territory with a recount ordered of votes cast in the 2004 National Assembly elections.
No one doubts that it is a logistical challenge.
But the more important challenge lies in the test it provides
for our democracy.
Transparency needs to be the order of the day, not secrecy and
confusion.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) should be commended
for almost immediately setting in motion the wheels to get the
process underway after Thursday's High Court ruling.
However, speed needs to be matched by due diligence when it
comes to putting in place processes and systems, and, most
importantly, checks and balances.
We cannot afford to take shortcuts.
It is incumbent on all concerned - the ECN and political parties
- to ensure that the recount is above reproach.
No effort should be spared to this end.
Anything less will only serve to erode confidence in one of the
most essential rights of our democracy: the integrity of Namibians'
fundamental right to vote, and that that vote is counted freely and
fairly.
There should be no lingering questions, let alone any whiff of
impropriety.
A repetition of the problems that led to hitches in last year's
ballot count cannot be allowed.
For example, if, as one election official is reported to have
said, some problems could be attributed to the "tiredness" of
officials involved in counting, steps should be taken to avoid this
from arising this time round.
Above all, it is vital that a system of checks and balances be
in place from the start.
This aspect cannot be emphasised enough.
ECN officials, in whose hands the formidable responsibility of
administering the recount lies, need to go out of their way to
safeguard the integrity of the process.
It is vital that the recount not be regarded by anyone as a
"grudge rematch".
The concerns of political parties should not be regarded as "a
nuisance", but should be dealt with professionally, and with an
open mind — not dismissed out of hand with the attitude of
"it's my way or the highway".
Where there is just cause for concern, this should be
addressed.
By the same token, political parties should do what they can to
facilitate the task of election officials.
In addition to due diligence, we need due reason.
The mere fact that we are having a recount shows that our system
works, that key institutions like the judiciary are independent and
serve the Namibian people.
To this day, questions persist around the US Supreme Court's
December 12 2000 election ruling, following the Florida vote
debacle, which effectively awarded the presidency to George W
Bush.
The basis on which that ruling was made called into question
that court's reputation as an impartial arbiter and its integrity
as an arm of democracy.
We do not want anything akin to this in Namibia.
When the sun sets on the recount, the only winner or loser will
be democracy; each and every Namibian has a stake in the
outcome.
It would be a blow to our democracy if the recount was tarnished
in any way.
But the more important challenge lies in the test it provides for
our democracy.Transparency needs to be the order of the day, not
secrecy and confusion.The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)
should be commended for almost immediately setting in motion the
wheels to get the process underway after Thursday's High Court
ruling.However, speed needs to be matched by due diligence when it
comes to putting in place processes and systems, and, most
importantly, checks and balances.We cannot afford to take
shortcuts.It is incumbent on all concerned - the ECN and political
parties - to ensure that the recount is above reproach.No effort
should be spared to this end.Anything less will only serve to erode
confidence in one of the most essential rights of our democracy:
the integrity of Namibians' fundamental right to vote, and that
that vote is counted freely and fairly.There should be no lingering
questions, let alone any whiff of impropriety.A repetition of the
problems that led to hitches in last year's ballot count cannot be
allowed.For example, if, as one election official is reported to
have said, some problems could be attributed to the "tiredness" of
officials involved in counting, steps should be taken to avoid this
from arising this time round.Above all, it is vital that a system
of checks and balances be in place from the start.This aspect
cannot be emphasised enough.ECN officials, in whose hands the
formidable responsibility of administering the recount lies, need
to go out of their way to safeguard the integrity of the process.It
is vital that the recount not be regarded by anyone as a "grudge
rematch".The concerns of political parties should not be regarded
as "a nuisance", but should be dealt with professionally, and with
an open mind — not dismissed out of hand with the attitude of
"it's my way or the highway".Where there is just cause for concern,
this should be addressed.By the same token, political parties
should do what they can to facilitate the task of election
officials.In addition to due diligence, we need due reason.The mere
fact that we are having a recount shows that our system works, that
key institutions like the judiciary are independent and serve the
Namibian people.To this day, questions persist around the US
Supreme Court's December 12 2000 election ruling, following the
Florida vote debacle, which effectively awarded the presidency to
George W Bush.The basis on which that ruling was made called into
question that court's reputation as an impartial arbiter and its
integrity as an arm of democracy.We do not want anything akin to
this in Namibia.When the sun sets on the recount, the only winner
or loser will be democracy; each and every Namibian has a stake in
the outcome.It would be a blow to our democracy if the recount was
tarnished in any way.